News

Van Vleuten just misses the podium in the EPZ Omloop van Borsele time trial

Fri 22 Apr 2016

Former Dutch time trial champion Annemiek Van Vleuten had another strong performance this evening to finish in fourth place in the EPZ Omloop van Borsele individual time trial event.

The 33-year-old stopped the clock in a time of 26minutes 41seconds, just one second short of a podium finish on the short 19.9kilometre course.

The fastest time was set by former world time trial champion Lisa Brennauer (Canyon-Sram) just three seconds ahead of second place.

Chrono Gatuneau winner Tayler Wiles and Australian time trial champion Katrin Garfoot also produced strong rides sitting in the podium spots for most of the event. It came down to the final batch of riders to knock the duo off the podium, eventually finishing the event in 7th and 8th place respectively.

Sport director Gene Bates expressed his satisfaction with the girl's performances on a course that wasn't the most suited to their strengths.

"Really good ride by all three girls considering this is a time trial which probably doesn't suit them, with it being only 19kilometres, flat and windy," Bates said.

"I think these three riders are more suited to a course that's a bit more technical and challenging in terms of hills, but overall they all performed really well tonight."

ORICA-AIS came into the race with high ambitions and although they didn't quite make the podium, their performances on this type of course are promising and shows their high level in this event.

"They all finished in the top ten so I think the girls can walk away happy but also knowing they have a lot of work to do in the coming months," continued Bates. "I think this will just add to their hunger to achieve more."

"Tomorrow the riders line up again for the road race which is set to be a tough one with stong winds."

How it happened:

With individual time trials few and far between on the women's calendar before the Rio Olympics, many of the world's best time trial specialists took to the start line in Borsele ready to go head to head on the flat course.

The riders took off down the start ramp to test themselves over a fairly short course for the individually timed event. The 19.9kilometre route twisted and turned through the flat lanes around the Dutch town of Borsele making it a lung bursting race for all.

American rider Wiles set the fastest time for the initial proceedings until Dutch rider Chantal Blaak (Boels-Dolmans) knocked the former Chrono Gatuneau winner off the top spot.

It came down to the final moments when the hot favourites lived up to expectation and claimed the top positions.

The race against the clock was won by Brennauer with the top five times all within close proximity of each other. All ORICA-AIS riders finished within the top ten.